Fusion surgery is indicated in a variety spine conditions including degeneration, deformity, tumors, and trauma. Degenerative conditions are the most common indication for fusion surgery. Examples include degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis (misaligned bones), and facet syndrome (pain due to arthritis in spinal joints).

The specific techniques used by surgeons to achieve a successful spinal fusion have evolved significantly over the past several years. Newer implants, minimally (MIS) invasive surgery, and new bone grafting materials all continue to be refined to give more consistent results and a quicker recovery than in the past.

There are two parts of a fusion: spinal hardware and bone graft. The fusion ultimately occurs because bone grafts help the patient’s own bone to build a bridge linking the vertebrae together. For many years the gold standard for bone graft was bone harvested from the hipbone. Because this graft is harvested from the patient’s own body, it is referred to as autograft. Unfortunately, as many as 15 % of patients noted chronic hip pain at the site of bone removal. Many alternatives to hip bone grafting have been developed to avoid this potential complication. The most common alternative is allograft – human bone taken from a cadaver. Newer allograft products include cadaver bone that is specifically engineered to include a higher concentration of adult stem cells – cells known to encourage new bone formation. The cadaver bone is tested and processed to minimize the chance for disease transmission or rejection by the recipient.